‘GOOD CHANCE’ TFC SELECTS IN FRIDAY’S RE-ENTRY DRAFT: COCHRANE

The chances of Toronto FC selecting in Stage 2 of Major League Soccer’s re-entry draft Friday afternoon are “good,” according to Earl Cochrane, TFC’s director of team and player operations.

“There are some talented players remaining,” Cochrane told the Sun. “As long as they stay remaining … the chances are pretty good that we will do something on Friday.”

To clarify, the Reds will likely exercise the first pick in Friday’s re-entry draft unless they were planning to select one of Justin Mapp or Ike Opara.

Mapp, a midfielder with the Montreal Impact, was re-upped Wednesday by the Quebec outfit while Sporting KC received Opara in a trade with San Jose.

Assuming TFC wasn’t targeting one of the above names, a few players stick out as potential selections in Friday’s draft due to the club’s current needs and cap concerns.

DF Tyson Wahl, $86,000 in 2012 with Montreal

MF Colin Clark, $110,000 in 2012 with Houston

CB Danny Califf, $250,000 in 2012 with Chivas

DF Julius James, $100,000 in 2012 with Columbus

CB Stephen Keel, $65,000 in 2012 with New York

Former TFC attacker Maicon Santos was the only player taken during last week’s opening stage of the MLS re-entry draft. The Brazilian was selected by the Chicago Fire in Stage 1, a stage that requires clubs to pick up player contracts without negotiation.

Cochrane told the Sun he’d be “surprised” if Eric Avila was with Toronto in 2013. The club and Avila simply can’t come to terms on a new deal … Freddy Hall is no longer with Toronto. The club’s No. 2 ‘keeper for much of 2012 recently had his option declined … The Reds are still negotiating potential deals with Andrew Wiedeman and Jeremy Hall, both of who are available in Friday’s re-entry draft unless Toronto agrees to terms with a pair of players who are heading into options years. Prevalent thought is that Toronto could still sign the pair if they agree to take a significant salary cut in 2013.

Leave a comment

About Kurtis

Sun Media's leading soccer columnist, Larson has been following Major League Soccer since '96 and reports on the Canadian men's national team and Toronto FC. Follow him every week on Sun sites across Canada, Slam sports and in the Toronto Sun.

Sun Media's leading soccer columnist, Larson has been following Major League Soccer since '96 and reports on the Canadian men's national team and Toronto FC. Follow him every week on Sun sites across Canada, Slam sports and in the Toronto Sun.